Washington, London ‘Complicit’ in Saudi War Crimes in Yemen: Int’l Lawyer

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior Canadian human rights attorney denounced Washington and London as “complicit” in the Saudi war crimes in Yemen and said the oil-rich kingdom’s money has provided Riyadh with diplomatic protection in the United Nations Security Council.

“The profit some arms suppliers are making through selling weapons to the Saudis and their allies presents strong opposition to taking action against the Saudis,” Edward Corrigan from Ontario said in an exclusive interview with the Tasnim News Agency.

“The US and British governments are providing diplomatic protection to the Saudis at the UN Security Council as they are making tons of money selling arms to the Saudis and their Allies,” he said.

“The inaction of the US and Britain on the crimes being committed by the Saudis and their allies and their covert and even open support amount to complicity in the Saudis war crimes,” the human rights lawyer noted.

Following is the full text of the interview:

Tasnim: The UN children’s agency has recently said the ongoing Saudi aggression against Yemen has killed or injured more than 5,000 children and left another 400,000 severely malnourished and fighting for their lives. The UNICEF said nearly 2 million Yemeni children were out of school, a quarter of them since the start of the war. In the meantime, the Saudi-led war on Yemen has led to a cholera epidemic in Yemen, which is one of the worst ever recorded in the world. The epidemic is likely to surge again around March, according to media reports. What do you think about the Saudi crimes in the Arabian Peninsula country? Why does not the UN take a practical measure, like imposing sanctions against Riyadh, in the face of its crimes?

Corrigan: All of the above information is true. There has been some movement on these issues in the European Union and even at the United Nations. The profit some arms suppliers are making through selling weapons to the Saudis and their allies presents strong opposition to taking action against the Saudis. The Riyadh regime’s money also is being used to fight the mounting campaign against the Saudis’ attack on Yemen. The US and British governments are providing diplomatic protection to the Saudis at the UN Security Council as they are making tons of money selling arms to the Saudis and their Allies

Tasnim: Some Western countries that claim to be champions of human rights are pursuing double-standard policies on Saudi Arabia's atrocities. How do you see the role of Washington and London in the Riyadh regime’s heinous crimes against Yemen?

Corrigan: There is a clear double standard on the part of the United States and Britain. They pretend to support human right but only do so when it suits their political purpose. It is actions that must be looked at. The inaction of the US and Britain on the crimes being committed by the Saudis and their allies and their covert and even open support amount to complicity in the Saudis war crimes. However, the opposition is growing in Britain and even in the United States. Let us hope that it continues to build and that concrete actions will be taken to curb the Saudis onslaught against the people of Yemen.

Tasnim: Since the start of its war on Yemen, the Saudi regime has reached none of its objectives. How do you assess recent developments on the battlefield?

Corrigan: It is essentially a stalemate. The will on the part of the people of Yemen to resist being dominated by the Saudis is truly amazing. The mercenaries and few troops being supplied by the Saudis and their allies do not have the will to fight and have no reason to fight in Yemen other than the money the Saudis and their allies pay them. However, money only goes so far and the mercenaries and soldiers fighting on behalf of the Saudis are not going to risk their lives for an unjust war against the people of Yemen. It is only through peace talks that this conflict will be resolved.